the time between rulers; a space between; the gap after one epoch ends and another begins; the tumultuous and exciting period after scholarly boundaries become fluid and before new academic disciplines are fully defined; the blog of New York University's Draper Program

Wednesday, November 10, 2010

The Silver School of Social Work has asked us to share one of their spring 2011 course offerings with you. The course is called "Narrative Inquiry for Teaching, Learning, and Research" and is a doctoral level class that is being opened to Master's students. Students who are interested in enrolling can contact Phil Ingram (phil.ingram@nyu.edu), the program administrator for Silver's Social Work doctoral program. More information about the class is below.

Please note: Draper students can transfer a maximum of eight credits from another school or institution toward their degree. Any students who are interested in this class should contact Robert Dimit (robert.dimit@nyu.edu) before enrolling.

“Narrative inquiry helps us to challenge received wisdoms [and] explore new ways of looking and seeing …" [1]

This course introduces the student to the theories and tools of narrative inquiry and how they may be used in research, teaching, and writing in social work.Narrative inquiry shares a number of assumptions with narrative practice and therapy but is different in purpose and the tools that are used. Using techniques of deconstruction from literary criticism and interpretive methods in the social sciences, narrative inquiry is aimed primarily at opening up space for new ways of thinking about ethics, professional, organizational and social practices, and consideration of the ways that language exposes power relations and political agendas. The major assignment for the course is a paper prepared for potential publication or a multimedia presentation for dissemination on the web. The course stresses collaborative learning, and will draw upon data from traditional quantitative studies, literature, mainstream media, websites, blogs, and social media to reflect on the social construction of social work practice and theory, and the ways that academic discourses shape knowledge production and claims.

Submissions are welcomed for the Sixteenth Annual Graduate Student Interdisciplinary Conference To be held Thursday, February 10th, 2011, Concordia University Faculty Lounge, Hall Immeuble, 1455 de Maisonneuve Blvd. West

We invite papers from all areas of the humanities that will inspire, challenge, and stretch personal assumptions, academic categories, and pedagogical approaches. This conference provides an excellent opportunity to share and publicize research as well as to meet other like-minded researchers.

This year’s theme focuses on the idea of confluence and limitations, systems and principles of categorization and spaces, of how identities are created and reflected, and the interplay of traditions within cultures, asking how these concepts are found in religions, societies and civilizations. This theme invites and encourages discussion on ethics, philosophy, art, anthropology, politics, sociology, case studies, doctrine and practices and how crossroads and borders present themselves across time and places, and how they impact individuals and communities.

We hope that such a theme will inspire and challenge graduate students from all areas of the humanities, social sciences, and the fine arts. Participants are invited to relate these ideas to their personal topics of research from the most concrete to the most abstract, including but not limited to doctrine, ethics, art, psychology, case studies, social practices and values, etc. We invite submissions that offer a critical, in-depth analysis of the issues or questions that challenge religious, cultural and societal ideals.

Presentations in either French or English are invited. Proposals may be submitted via regular mail or e-mail. Proposals are to be no more than one page and must include a publication-ready, titled abstract of 150-200 words. The name, address, telephone numbers, e-mail address, university affiliation and level of study of the presenter(s) must also be included. Any special requests or needs for audio-visual equipment must also be indicated. Proposals should be postmarked no later than December 3rd, 2010. All received submissions will be acknowledged, with notification of acceptance, by early January. Please note that all presentations have the possibility to be considered for publication in the Journal of Religion and Culture.

Not only is Thursday, December 16th the thesis submission deadline for all January 2011 graduates, it's also the date of Draper's semester-end party. Join us to relax and celebrate after a long, productive semester. Festivities will begin at 5:00 PM in the Map Room. Food and drink will be provided, and guests are welcome.

RSVP's are appreciated--call 212.998.8070 or email draper.program@nyu.edu to let us know if you'll be attending.

With a panel discussion on Rethinking U.S. Labor History: Thoughts on the Recent Past and Future of the Field to include the editor and two of the contributors: Donna Haverty-Stacke CUNY, Hunter College), Daniel Walkowitz (SCA/History, NYU), Eric Arnesen (George Washington University) and Zach Schwartz-Weinstein (American Studies, NYU) with a comment by Michael Nash of the Tamiment Library, NYU

The Foucault Society is pleased to announce a new colloquium series, which will begin in January 2011 and meet monthly in New York City. As a forum for new research and works-in-progress, this series will provide an opportunity for both junior and senior scholars to share new work with a friendly and supportive audience of colleagues.

We invite paper proposals on any aspect of Foucault studies. Papers may offer close readings of Foucault's texts; analyze social, cultural or political phenomena in the context of Foucaultian critique; or situate Foucault's work in terms of related thinkers or areas of critical theory. Critiques of Foucault and comparative readings are welcome, as are diverse critical, historical and empirical approaches.

Papers should be approximately 30 minutes reading time.

Graduate students, recent Ph.D.s, new faculty, and independent scholars are especially encouraged to apply. Presenters may come from any field in the humanities or social sciences. Please send 500-word abstract and c.v. to the Foucault Society's Executive Committee at foucaultsocietyorg@gmail.com. Inquiries are welcome.

Deadline for Spring 2011 presentations: December 1, 2010. Papers received after that date will be considered until the schedule is full.

****About the Foucault Society:The Foucault Society is an independent, non-profit educational organization offering a variety of forums dedicated to critical study of the ideas of Michel Foucault (1926-1984) within a contemporary context. The Foucault Society is a 501 (c) (3) recognized public charity. As such donations are tax deductible under section 170 of the Internal Revenue Code.E-mail: foucaultsocietyorg@gmail.comFacebook: http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=12929420844Website: www.foucaultsociety.org